Quotes from Dystopian Fiction to Inspire You

Some people say that dystopian fiction arouses our fears of dire “if this goes on” futures. Many think dystopian fiction is too dark to read, too depressing. Perhaps. And yet, most of us don’t read to depress ourselves. When you look closely, you can also find hope and words to inspire you.

The cover of Ray Bradbury's book Fahrenheit 451 has red and yellow flames covering most of the book. It's a book that will horrify and inspire you.

There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.

Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

We Have a Chance

Did you ever feel, as though you had something inside you that was only waiting for you to give it a chance to come out? Some sort of extra power that you aren’t using – you know, like all the water that goes down the falls instead of through the turbines?

Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

We Birth Our Future

Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.

David Mitchell,Cloud Atlas

We Have a Choice

The most important thing you can ever know, is that whatever your purpose is, that’s not your only choice.

Dan Wells, Partials

We Learn What Matters

It’s taken me all this time, all this loss, to realize what really matters is now.

Suzanne Young, The Treatment

We Learn What’s Possible

“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it’s yours.”

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

For more reasons on why we read dystopian fiction read this post.

Inspirational or Depressing?

Did you feel the hope? That’s what the best dystopian fiction does. It presents a dire situation, an awful could have been or might be, and shines the light of hope on humanity. Do you agree that dystopian fiction is meant to inspire you? 

First Lines for September

First Lines Friday is a series of blog articles posted on the first Friday of every month. The first line of a story, we’re told, must hook the reader. Implied is that the reader will not buy the book if the first line isn’t great. These entries are from Amazon, my personal library, or other online booksellers. Do these first lines for September hook you? Do you want to read more?


Image of the book cover for The Legacy: Elijah. A seven stars above a cityscape silhouette sits inside a circle with wings.

An ear to the door. So simple it was stupid. 

The Legacy: Elijah (The Legacy Series Book 3) by Tricia Wentworth

The night it began, all we could do was listen to the chaos.

Trying to Survive (Part 1) by C.J. Crowley

Charlie sat on a cracked curb in what had been just an hour before, a great city.

Simulant by Bobby Adair  

An hour after the Resurrection Formula team leaders were served breakfast by his Bags, Brandon Kirby marched in the ballroom of his Connecticut country home.

The Opulent Life Option: A Dystopian Novel by Craig Proffitt

The scream builds in my chest, threatens to erupt out of me.

Contain (BUNKER 12) (Volume 1) Saul Tanpepper

Shayna Coldrake eased the truck around to the backside of  a two-story house, watching for any sign of life.

Scorched Earth (Nevermore Book 1) by Stephen Monaco

A gunshot pierced the night.

A hollow ring echoed in its wake.

Age of Order by Julian North

There were quite a few interesting things about Johnnie: replacing his left hand was a golden claw, he had no scent detectable to any creature on Earth, and he was the most infamous mercenary in two out of three Confederate states. 

Beyond the Last War: The Wayward Mercenary by Claude McKenna

And Here’s One More

If you liked those first lines, I hope you’ll love this one:

The giant bronze angel of death loomed over Miranda Clarke’s shoulder.

My Soul to Keep, Book One in the Fellowship Dystopia series by Lynette M. Burrows

Clarification

There are no affiliate links in this post. I don’t make a cent off of the books listed on this page. Usually these titles are pulled at random. They are here for your enjoyment. And to entice you to buy more books.

Do You Want to Read More?

Did you enjoy this list? Check out previous First Line Fridays. You’ll put an enormous smile on my face if you tell me in the comments below— Which of these first lines for September spoke to reader you? Did you buy the book?

Dystopian SF First Lines

Today’s Dystopian SF First Lines post is part of my First Lines Friday series. The first line of a story, we’re told, must hook the reader. Implied is that the reader will not buy the book if the first line isn’t great. These entries are from Amazon, my personal library, or other online booksellers. Do these first lines hook you? Would you read more?


A twig snaps somewhere in the woods. I shoot up from my sleeping bag and reach out in the darkness.

The Burn Our Houses Down Trilogy by Kelsey D. Garmendia

Bursting open, the thin, wooden door slammed against the wall and cracked in half.
“Get down!” a man yelled.

Prep For Doom by E.R. Arroyo, Laura Albins, Amy Bartelloni, Brea Behn, and 16 others

Feet pounded across the young messenger ran as fast as his legs would take him.

Legacy of Light: The Series by by M. Lynn and Michelle Bryan

“What better way to destroy our enemies than to simply allow them to destroy themselves?”

The Good, the Dead, and the Lawless: The Undoing by Angelique Archer

Deep beneath the surface of the earth, two men stood of a dirt walkway.

Virulent: The Release The Virulent Chronicles Book 1 by Shelbi Wescott

This morning in Physics we learned how momentum often led to collisions.

Things That Should Stay Buried by Casey L. Bond

Sixteen year old Iris Lucinda Ankea collapsed to the ground in the middle of her l living room, a hand to her head.

Timekeeper Rising (The Timekeeper Duo Book 1) by Allyssa Painter

Maggie’s mouth was a barely discernible line as she let her eyes look up to the clear blue sky.

5 Years After by Richard Correll

“Are you sure?”
Atopia wasn’t only about perfecting synthetic reality.

The Atopia Chronicles by Matthew Mather

Please Note

There are no affiliate links in this post. I don’t make a cent off of the books listed on this page. These titles are here for your enjoyment. And to entice you to buy more books.

Now, if you buy one of my books… that will put a little money in my pocket. And a gigantic smile on my face. I love my readers.

Do You Want to Read More?

Did you enjoy these Dystopian SF First Lines? Check out previous First Line Friday posts. And you’ll put another enormous smile on my face if you tell me in the comments below— Which ones spoke to you? Did you buy it?

Do You Want to Read More?

First Line Friday is a series of blog articles posted on the first Friday of every month. The first line of a story, we’re told, must hook the reader. Implied is that the reader will not buy the book if the first line isn’t great. These entries are from Amazon, my personal library, or other online booksellers. Do these first lines hook you? Do you want to read more?

John Allerton sucked in another painful breath and struggled not to cough it out.

Image of the book, Unprepared, The Scourge Series Book 1. Do You want to read more?

Tom Abrahams, Unprepared (The Scourge Book 1)


Papa fell down and he didn’t stand up again.

Ramona Finn, The Culling (The Culling Trilogy Book 1)


Harvey Watson didn’t want to admit it, but he was lost.

Ryan Casey, Outbreak: A Post Apocalyptic Survival Thriller 


I had my recurring dream last night.

Image of the book cover for Parable of the Sower. Do you want to read more?

Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Sower


Alex Hawk looked from one corner of his basement to the other.

Shawn Inmon, A Door Into Time: An Alex Hawk Time Travel Adventure


Let’s start with the end of the world, why don’t we?

N.K. Jemisin, The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth Book 1)


It feels like we’re running away…

S. M. Anderson, A Bright Shore (The Eden Chronicles Book 1)


I sometimes wonder what was disappeared first—among all the things that have vanished from the island.

Yoko Ogawa, Translated from Japanese by StephenSnyder, The Memory Police


The librarians never asked why their patrons needed to check out a baby.

Gay, Roxane Graceful Burdens Short Read (Out of Line collection)


Florian Parks was sitting in the Gantry watchtower, whittling a wooden doll for his little sister, when he first spotted the travelers over the pointed tips of the palisade.

Image of the book cover for Strange Fire. Do you want to read more?

Wallach, Tommy Strange Fire (The Anchor & Sophia Book 1)


The end of the old world surprised few.

Harber, J. R., The Future Was Now


Still hours of dark to go when I left the house that morning.

Donoghue, Emma The Pull of the Stars


How did we get here?

Image of the book cover for Rosemary and Rue. Do You want to read more?

McGuire, Seanan Rosemary and Rue (October Daye Book 1)


Clarification

There are no affiliate links in this post. I don’t make a cent off of the books listed on this page. These titles are here for your enjoyment. And to entice you to buy more books.

Now, if you buy one of my books… that will put a little money in my pocket. And a gigantic smile on my face. I love my readers.

Do You Want to Read More?

Did you enjoy this list? Check out previous First Line Friday posts for July and August. And you’ll put another enormous smile on my face if you tell me in the comments below—do you want to read more? Seriously, I need to know. Do you? Which ones?